Tag Archives: textiles

Unquilting/Requilting, 1970

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Lynn

This picture portrays a West Virginia coop turning old quilts into new items.  If you look carefully, it appears that the oldest woman in the back on the right is hand stitching a pillow, while the woman at the far … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Book Review: Worn by Sofi Thanhauser

Posted on February 19, 2023 by Lynn

This is a staggeringly ambitious book, evident already in the subtitle.  By “people” Thanhauser means all people, everywhere.  And by “clothing” she considers not only the sewn or knitted garments we use for protection and expression, but also the raw … Continue reading →

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Aging in Color: Ruth Adler Schnee

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Lynn

Famous textile designer Ruth Adler Schnee (1923-2023) died this month at the age of 99.  She is credited with bringing textile design into the world of midcentury modernism.  The daughter of an antiquarian bookseller and a Bauhaus graduate, her family … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990, 2000s, 2010s | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Sheer Dress at Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Lynn

No turkey on the table, but I’m guessing this must be Thanksgiving. When else is pumpkin pie the only dessert?  As is obvious from the woman who is dolloping out whipped cream, sheer dresses were not only for the old.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Sheer Dress and the Older Woman

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Lynn

I’ve long been fascinated by older women in sheer dresses.  They seem paradoxical to me, revealing an older body shape at a time when many women like to disguise those extra pounds the years have brought.  But there is no … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s | Tagged | 3 Comments

Considering the Coastal Grandmother

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Lynn

I’ve been avoiding the topic of the Coastal Grandmother, even though it seems a perfect subject for this blog.  Why?   It smacks so much of wealth and white privilege. Everything is white, from the people, to the backgrounds, to the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020s | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Hope Skillman Fabrics

Posted on July 23, 2022 by Lynn

I’ve been wanting to write about textile designer and manufacturer Hope Skillman (1908-1981) for a long time, but pictures of her—especially with any sense of what she wore—are hard to find.  This Vogue advertisement, featuring her fabric on a dress … Continue reading →

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Big Hair at the Grand Canyon, 1972

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Lynn

That’s a pretty elaborate hairdo for a vacation outing, but some people put in a lot of effort to look good no matter what the occasion.  This very cheerful woman was not following current hairstyles, which had moved on to … Continue reading →

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That Seventies Polyester

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Lynn

Was there ever another decade more closely associated with a fabric than the seventies and polyester?  I have a book featuring Sears clothing from the early 1970s, and it is simply amazing how many of the clothes are made from … Continue reading →

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A Faith Ringgold Retrospective

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Lynn

Aren’t there times when you wished you lived in New York City?  I wish I were there now to see the Faith Ringgold retrospective at the New Museum.  It is the first comprehensive US retrospective of her work, beginning with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment